Dear Faith Family,
"Who is wise and understanding among you?"
(James 3:13)
Right about the halfway mark of his letter, James asks his first demanding question. Oh sure, he's asked a handful of thought-provoking questions before this one. Questions rhetorical in nature. Questions whose answers are contextually obvious and so meant to loosen our defenses and weaken our resistance to James' argument. By now, we are caught up in the flow of James' exhorting observations. And with our guard down, James lands a gut-checking blow: Who is wise and understanding among you?
Unlike the questions before, the question at the center of James demands not merely thoughtfulness or right information, but examination and evidence. James does not ask "What is wisdom?" or "How do we understand?" but rather, "Who?" Who is wise? Who is understanding? You? Me? Another?
As listeners, we are compelled to consider, Am I wise and understanding? What about my spouse, my parent, my friend, my teacher, my boss, my neighbor, my pastor, etc.? Are they wise and understanding? How do I know? How can I discern and defend my answer?
Graciously, James provides us with the parameters for discernment rather promptly:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)
James will go on to describe the particulars of this "good conduct" by which we evidence wise living in verses 17-18. Before doing so, as is common in ancient wisdom literature, he describes the root of its opposite in verses 14-16. By providing us with what evidence to look for, James frees our minds to examine the why. Why is this person wise and understanding, and that person not? Why am I wise and understanding, or why am I not?
As we discussed on Sunday, the difference between being wise and understanding, and not, according to James, is not a matter of intelligence nor even primarily a matter of knowing what is right, but is a disposition of the heart: "let him show his work in the meekness of wisdom." Why is one wise and another not? It is, as much as anything, a heart issue. A quality of heart that is shared with the One who is "meek and lowly in heart," with whom we find rest (salvation) for our souls (Matthew 11:29, James 1:21).
James says that faith at work within leads to living wisely, "a harvest of righteousness" as "authors of peace" (3:18) no less. But only if we drop our guard a bit and are willing to get the breath knocked out of us a bit, so that the Breath of Life might fill our lungs. So, will you join me in letting down our guard so that James' question might land a proper blow? Here is how:
Read James 3:13-18
(Re)Listen or Watch(!) the Sermon
Reflect & Share
First with the Lord and then with your GC or a faith-filled friend:Where do envy and self-interest exist within my heart?
Am I authoring peace in my roles, responsibilities, and relationships?
How or why not?
What would tomorrow look like if I responded wisely to faith at work within me?
May our works -- all that we do in word and deed to make life, good -- show our hearts in the meekness of wisdom.
Love you, faith family. God bless.